Johnathan Paoli
Parliament has confirmed the decision by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party to remove 18 members of Parliament (MPs) representing the party from the National Assembly.
MK Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo announced on Thursday that Chief Whip Sihle Ngubane wrote to the NA speaker Thoko Didiza, informing her that the party had depleted its national list of candidates in line with legal requirements.
In line with section 47(3)(c) of the Constitution, a person loses membership of the NA if that person ceases to be a member of the party that nominated that person as a member of the assembly.
MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the decision followed the sabotage of the list of candidates submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) ahead of the elections.
“It’s also important to note that leading up to the elections, the MK party IEC [Electoral Commission of South Africa] list was compromised by saboteurs who went on to populate the IEC system with a list of their friends, family members and neighbours,” he said.
Ndhlela said that 12 MPs were sworn in on 25 June, while another six were not sworn in due to ill-health and other reasons.
He said the members were in the know of the decision since the day of swearing in.
“They were advised not to proceed to avail themselves for the swearing in, or if they so wished proceed with the understanding that they would be replaced at a later stage, pending the parliamentary procedures,” the spokesperson said.
He confirmed that a case has been opened by the party at the police station in Sandton, Johannesburg, alleging sabotage of its parliamentary list.
Ndhlela clarified the decision, following the leaking of the chief whip’s letter on social media, which initially indicated that only 15 MPs have been expelled.
“We place it on record that all internal MK party processes were followed. All replaced members were informed of the intention to replace them as MPs representing the MK party,” he said.
The replacement comes on the heels of reports that party secretary-general Arthur Zwane has been removed from his role for a second time.
Mothapo said the new party members to fill the vacancy in Parliament will be announced at a later date.
“The speaker is currently considering these correspondences, and a decision will be made in due course,” he said.
A date for the swearing in of the new members will be announced.
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